With Bud looking so unbelievably jacked, there were global gasps. Accusations of Photoshop. Even Joe Rogan echoing the thought of so many via a post reaction that simply read: \u201cOh, s***\u201d. <\/p>\n
Momentarily, some even shouted about an AI fake.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1756769048_562_poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n
With that claim coming immediately after UFC star Ilia Topuria also posted his own meeting with a shirtless Crawford, who looked exactly like a fighter would at, say, the start of camp.<\/p>\n
Which, unsurprisingly, is also likely when the photograph was taken.<\/p>\n
Terence Crawford has seriously bulked up.Source: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n
But if you want the real truth?<\/p>\n
Well, how about we just go ask the Australian responsible for Crawford\u2019s incredible rig?<\/p>\n
Understanding Gavin Pratt, he is.<\/p>\n
And has been for the best part of two years.<\/p>\n
Or put another way, before even that hyped Errol Spence win.<\/p>\n
So as for Pratt\u2019s thoughts watching a shirtless \u2018Bud\u2019 in their final workout last Friday?<\/p>\n
\u201cMy main thought,\u201d he cackles, \u201cis let\u2019s f***ing go \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Once a budding AFL wannabe in Fremantle, and later, spawning an Olympic surf school in, of all places, China, 45-year-old Pratt now suddenly looms among the most crucial cogs in this Sunday\u2019s \u2018Fight of the Century\u2019.<\/p>\n
Not that anybody knows.<\/p>\n
Nor has anyone given even a passing nod to Pratt\u2019s role in those Crawford pics now going viral.<\/p>\n
Which to be fair, is exactly how this Perth boy likes it.<\/p>\n
And would prefer things stay.<\/p>\n
Still, know that for the past 12 weeks and counting, it\u2019s been Pratt who has quietly overseen the incredible transformation that is Crawford\u2019s now hyped, err, body of work.<\/p>\n
Greatest physical overhaul in boxing history?<\/p>\n
Maybe.<\/p>\n
Understanding that when he challenges Mexico\u2019s Canelo Alvarez inside Allegiant Stadium this Sunday, \u2018Bud\u2019 will effectively be moving up three weight classes — or almost 10 kilos.<\/p>\n
Which as the great Billy Birmingham had Richie Beanud so wonderfully chortle in those 12th Man tapes: \u201cIsn\u2019t an impossible task \u2026 but pretty f***ing close to it\u201d.<\/p>\n
Zerafa inks deal to fight Nikita Tszyu | 03:18<\/p>\n
Indeed, despite having already earned undisputed status at both a super lightweight and welterweight, Crawford is now preparing for a seemingly crazy jump \u2013 and against arguably the modern era\u2019s greatest fighter.<\/p>\n
Only once has Crawford fought at even super welterweight.<\/p>\n
A performance too, which wasn\u2019t some highlight reel finish last August, but a tough decision win over WBA champ Israil Madrimov.<\/p>\n
So as for now upsetting undisputed super middleweight king Canelo?<\/p>\n
No, the bookies don\u2019t think it possible.<\/p>\n
Nor a host of boxing types led by Mike Tyson, Ryan Garcia, even Jim Lampley. <\/p>\n
But, OK \u2026 enter Pratt.<\/p>\n
While not officially a boxing guy, this West Australian has spent years overseeing some of the world\u2019s greatest fighters inside the $20 million UFC Performance Institute.<\/p>\n
Officially, Pratt is UFC Director of Strength & Conditioning.<\/p>\n
A role that sees him working with not only a whole range of Octagon toughs, but stars of NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball, and, of course, boxing.<\/p>\n
More recently, Pratt has also assisted with travelling NRL teams — many of whom train out of the UFC gym prior to their now famous Las Vegas season launch \u2013 while Tim Tszyu also sought his expertise during a 2024 stint Stateside. <\/p>\n
Crawford, too, is such a fan of the affable Aussie that he offered to base Pratt out of Colorado for the entirety of his camp for the Canelo blockbuster.<\/p>\n
However given his ongoing commitments at UFC Central, the High Performance guru instead spent an initial three weeks with Crawford in Las Vegas, then mapped out his plan for what has been the ensuing two months.<\/p>\n
Then for the past fortnight, the pair have reunited in Sin City as \u2018Bud\u2019 now makes final preparations for a headliner so big it feels like the entire world is dissecting those latest gym pics. <\/p>\n
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia this week however, Pratt refused to accept any praise for the Instagram images now doing the rounds, or anything coming in Sunday\u2019s US blockbuster. <\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, Terence looks great,\u201d he said, speaking via Zoom from his UFC gym office. \u201cAnd that\u2019s all testament to all the work he puts in.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen he arrived back into Las Vegas last week, I hadn\u2019t seen him for six weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I\u2019m not surprised by how he looks.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn fact, my first reaction was \u2018of course\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn terms of dedication, coachability, Terence Crawford is among the greatest athletes I\u2019ve worked with.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything is kudos to him, to his efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former boxer ‘Aussie Joe’ Bugner dies | 00:45<\/p>\n
Given the enormity of this fight, Pratt is unable to go into specific detail around how Crawford has added the weight, his gym PBs, or exactly how heavy he will be on fight night.<\/p>\n
The conditioner also stresses, repeatedly, that his role is only one part of a much larger team effort.<\/p>\n
Still, readying a fighter to effectively rise three weight classes \u2013 and against no less than global boxing\u2019s biggest superstar \u2013 has to be some challenge all its own.<\/p>\n
Especially given how, usually, Pratt\u2019s role involves the exact opposite, right?<\/p>\n
Specifically, readying UFC stars for a weight cut, otherwise known as the fight before your fight. <\/p>\n
\u201cPutting on lean muscle, you have to be really cautious,\u201d Pratt admits.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause you\u2019re wanting to add that muscle while still holding onto on the valuable mechanisms that make them such great champions.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the case of Terence Crawford, he\u2019s an incredibly skilful boxer.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s fast, great cardiovascular responses \u2026 and we don\u2019t want to drain him of those.<\/p>\n
\u201cStill, he is going up several weight classes.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we need to put on functional mass while still being able to express all those speed and energy systems required of someone at that elite level.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of the biggest issues, Pratt says, is \u2018The Interference Effect\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith elite athletes training so much,\u201d he continues, \u201cthey aren\u2019t really in an environment suitable for gaining lean muscle mass.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause the calorie deficit is so huge during training, there is usually no time for adaptation.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo that\u2019s the challenge \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
And judging by his week\u2019s pictures, you\u2019ve got there, right?<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, Terence looks fantastic,\u201d Pratt agrees.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut to be totally honest with you, I don\u2019t know what his exact composition is. Don\u2019t know those numbers.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd while we look at changing the athlete, it\u2019s the fighter who is then worked on by his technical coaches.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo yes, we\u2019d like to think we\u2019ve had success.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven Terence the functionality to do his very best.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then from there, it\u2019s that technical skillset which takes over.<\/p>\n
\u201cAgain, it\u2019s a real team effort.\u201d<\/p>\n
‘KO of the year!’: Till FOLDS Rockhold! | 01:03<\/p>\n
Asked exactly how and why Crawford sought the UFC crew out and Pratt laughs: \u201cThat\u2019s a great question, although not one I\u2019m sure I can answer.<\/p>\n
\u201cBasically, it started with Terence coming to Las Vegas and training next door to us inside the UFC Apex, which has a boxing ring, gym, all that sort of thing.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd it was while there that he learned about the UFC PI, and all the services we provide.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo then one day Terence arrived here for a meeting, where he and I hit it off \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Didn\u2019t they what?<\/p>\n
With Crawford\u2019s first win under the new team being his 2023 epic against Errol Spence Jnr.<\/p>\n
So pleased was the American with his physical shape for that camp, and everything which flowed, he has continually returned to the UFC Performance Institute \u2013 and Pratt, specifically \u2013 ever since.<\/p>\n
As part of this latest build for Canelo Alvarez, Bud initially spent three weeks with Pratt and the wider UFC PI team \u2013 testing areas like strength, power and energy systems.<\/p>\n
From there, and with Pratt unable to travel to Colorado, the trainer then created a program to see Crawford through the rest of his preparations, with specific targets to reach and areas to work on.<\/p>\n
And while unable to delve into specifics, he insists the results have been outstanding.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause if you only had one word for Terence Crawford? Competitive,\u201d Pratt insists.<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly, with Terence, everything is a competition.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what drives him, and what makes him so successful.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt can be anything from the weight he\u2019s lifting in the gym, or his scores on a hand-eye coordination test.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019ll even take time to check and see if training partners are cheating on something I\u2019ve prescribed for the group \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
However, it\u2019s not just those who share the training floor who provide competition.<\/p>\n
\u201cTerence is also wanting to beat the results of any UFC fighter who sits round his weight class,\u201d Pratt continues. \u201cAnd also while competing against himself.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love that.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s just forever wanting to know who is the best \u2013 at everything.\u201d <\/p>\n
Which isn\u2019t what anyone is talking about this week.<\/p>\n
No, this week it\u2019s all about those pictures.<\/p>\n
Yet before jumping off Zoom and back onto the UFC gym floor, Pratt tells you quickly about some of what he saw in Crawford\u2019s final workout with him last Friday.<\/p>\n
A physical session where, he stresses, the end result was about far more than any snaps melting Instagram.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause the way Terence moved,\u201d Pratt grins, \u201cyeah, that looked fantastic as well\u201d. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Terence Crawford whipped off his shirt in Las Vegas this week and, immediately, Instagram went bonkers. Seen the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":133901,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[571],"tags":[64,63,802,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-133900","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-boxing","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-boxing","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/133900","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=133900"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/133900\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/133901"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=133900"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=133900"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=133900"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}